Tragedy on the IRC Targa Florio Rally
On stage eight of Targa Florio-Rally Internazionale Di Sicilia there was an accident involving Peugeot 207 S2000 car number 15, Craig Breen and Gareth Roberts, which resulted in the stage being stopped to enable medical crews to attend the scene. Despite their best efforts, Gareth Roberts succumbed to his injuries and the remainder of the event has been cancelled as a mark of respect. Craig Breen was unhurt in the accident and no spectators were involved.
Gareth Roberts, from Carmarthen, was an up-and-coming star of rallying, winning last year's World Rally Championship Academy, alongside driver Breen. They celebrated the win in Cardiff, snatching the victory on the last day of the six-round event when the championship came to Wales as part of the Wales Rally GB.
Roberts began competitive driving in 2004 when he was a teenager, with success alongside fellow Welshman Elfyn Evans, from Dolgellau, in the Fiesta Sport Trophy series. Gareth then teamed up with Breen in 2009, steadily working their way up the rankings before taking last year's inaugural WRC Academy Cup.
Speaking of Roberts following a recent event in Corsica, Breen said: "Gareth is a magician; he's incredible how he gets every note out so quickly. I couldn't do it without him." Breen and Roberts had started competing in the World Rally Championship this year and were only on this IRC event to gain more experience.
Due to strict regulations and safety measures enforced by the FIA, the sport of rallying has been seen as a far safer sport than it used to be in the eighties, nineties and noughties and today's tragic accident in Sicily will be huge shock to the close-knit international rallying community.
The International Rally Drivers Club is very sad to hear of the loss of Gareth Roberts and offers its sincere condolences to Gareth's family, many friends, supporters and of course Craig Breen and the team.
Promoters of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, Eurosport Events, extended its sincere condolences to Gareth's family and friends who it said "are in our thoughts at this very sad time."
16th June, 2012